Rav Ovadiah: Don’t Wake the Neighbors

Kikar ha-Shabbat is reporting (via Rabbi Yosef’s Facebook page) that Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef cancelled the recitation of seliḥot that were suppose to be recited late at night in the synagogue found in the apartment building where he lives, because of complaints by the neighbors. Some of the neighbors said that the noise makes it difficult for their children to sleep. Rav Ovadiah is quoted as saying that “we won’t perform a mitzvah at the expense of someone else” and suggested that people say the seliḥot in their own synagogue. According to this report, the seliḥot were said last night at the synagogue in Rav Ovadiah’s building, but from now on will be recited in the morning.